Thread: Health Insurance Now Required for Long Stay Expats

JPPR2, you've offered one of the few responses I can see here with truly valuable advice.

Meanwhile, having a bit of protection in case you get clipped by a scooter isn't a bad idea.

You do NOT have to deal with those international crooks like BUPA, ALLIANZ, etc. You can get a decent, minimal package HERE for as little as a couple hundred buck A YEAR.

https://www.thaihealth.co.th/2012/product_simply_eng.php

Originally Posted by buriramboy

My misses is like me always up for adventure and a new challenge

Same with my wife. If she wanted to move and the location seemed like one I could enjoy, I am game. For now Thailand works.

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

So you've not considered donating your body to medical research then? Advantage is that they pay for the cremation once they finish with you. No expenses for the missus.

she has already a contract with an indian co.
1. a second hand MECHANICAL AOTA HEART VALVE.IN GOOD CONDITION.
2.a DOUBLE BY-PASS with vains taken from good legs.
3.no BRAIN ABNORMALITIES after 3scans.
4.no BAD TEETH.
5.a GOOD CROP OF HAIR.
6.a GOOD SHITTER.
7.HALF A BRAIN.
8.12 STAINLESS STEEL CLAMPS IN MY CHEST.
now for the not so good.
1.a 2INCH DICK that sleeps all day and night.
2.2HANDS ONLY GOOD FOR WASHING DISHES.
3.FEET FHKED.
4.LEGS FHKED.
5.a BADLY SCARED BODY.
6.a BAD HIATUS HERNIA.
7. 2BAD EYES.
8.and worst of all,NO MONEY.
all offers send to MRS.HH.care of TEAK DOOR.

Originally Posted by headhunter

a 2 INCH DICK

...an appetizer for hungry ducks...

Originally Posted by headhunter

a BAD HIATUS HERNIA

...so, you're still waiting for it to happen then...

Originally Posted by headhunter

BADLY SCARED BODY

...trembling only reduces dick size...

Originally Posted by buriramboy

Thailand. It's really not a place for oldies

You are completely wrong. More and more old people have been moving (for ever) to Thailand because of the easier and more affordable living. The whole colonies of hostels for oldies throughout the whole country.

As of the medical coverage, in the home country is also not so cheap. When properly (and early) organized here, it's quite well functioning.

Originally Posted by taxexile

it cannot be allowed to happen. it would be a national shame. the thai have fought wars over less.

it must be the thai that screws the falang. just as it has always been. it just cant be the other way round. the thai are on home territory here, and must win. their nation, their rules, their culture.

the desperate need of the uniformed and bemedalled for unquestioning respect, obeisance and subservience must be satisfied and their grasping ways cannot be and must not be challenged. the greed must be fed.

I just read this in the voice of Winston Churchill.

I implore you guys to do the same. It is very rousing!

Originally Posted by Phuketrichard

wow< can my half thai / half American daughter living in America support me living in Thailand as i am over 50?

She probably could have at the time it was brought in but to get it she had to accompany you to the IO office and have a registered address here in Ting Tong land.

Originally Posted by buriramboy

Thailand really needs to be enjoyed when young, glad the 10 years I lived there was aged 25-35. It's really not a place for oldies

I guess it really depends on what ones intentions are/were.... Right? I doubt I would have wanted to be here when I was 25- 35. Jobs were limited and no career path and salaries are low. Now if it was all about women, then different story. For me I had no issues meeting women in the states from 20-30 and I doubt I would have had the patience to deal with culture differences at that age. Way too much work.

Originally Posted by Klondyke

You are completely wrong. More and more old people have been moving (for ever) to Thailand because of the easier and more affordable living. The whole colonies of hostels for oldies throughout the whole country.

As of the medical coverage, in the home country is also not so cheap. When properly (and early) organized here, it's quite well functioning.

^ I agree. Now older and having done my career path and saved some good coin, moving here older was perfect timing. I had grown tired of the states for a host of reasons. Life here is waaaaay easier and far more affordable and quite frankly this insurance mandate is just noise. There will be suitable options for most. Sure some will be displaced but no change comes without angst for some. Guess its life.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

The thing is, if residence in the LoS is contingent on life insurance.

The cunts demanding life insurance as well now ?

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

At present the Thai insurance markets will only indemnify over 60s meeting the cover threshold dictated by the government at a minimum annual premium of around 50,000 baht. This provides for a level of care that, considering the cost of the premium, is fucking useless. The policy as offered is dependent on two provisos - you are free of any pre-existing illnesses or conditions and you are married to a Thai national, as cited by the Kasikorn Bank. Thus, if you have heart/liver/kidney/ Type 2 insulin dependent diabetic problems or you are over 70, you are pretty much uninsurable.

If one does not like the Thai policies on offer there is fook all stopping them from shopping at home for something better.

Err, there is no western oriented medical insurance provider that will offer a 60+ annual policy for under 150,000 - 250,000 baht and that will of course depend on medical history, exclusions and excesses. If one is already privately insured before 60 then they let you carry on but with obvious increases but once you hit 70 you is fucked.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

Err, there is no western oriented medical insurance provider that will offer a 60+ annual policy for under 150,000 - 250,000 baht and that will of course depend on medical history, exclusions and excesses.

Unlike a Thai life/medical insurance...

Yup – wanna live in Thailand – you have to abide by their rules, as Terry says “you need to be cashed up”.

Well, that statement rings true anywhere. If ya ain’t got cash you stay home and live off the government dole. You can’t afford to meet “other” countries regulatory requirements without adequate cash. And, other countries ain’t gonna let you live off their taxpayers, Well, at least that’s the way it should be. Of course, the current “refugee” crisis seems to fly in the face of that statement.

But, as far as “immigration”, I’ve run the gamut of Thai and the USA. They are both pretty much a royal PITA. Different flavors but both have a slew of hoops and roadblocks.

As far as mandatory insurance – Thailand is somewhere in the process of implementing mandatory insurance. For comparison purposes, the good old USA recently implemented mandatory insurance – it is called the Affordable Care Act – now this is the “affordable” part of it. A few years ago, myself 60 yo male and my wife 55 yo female, no pre-existing conditions, cheapest plan USD $1k/month premiums with a $15k deductible. So, in effect, if either of us got “sick” we had to pay USD $27k out-of-pocket before the insurance company picked up the bill(s).

Comparison, we are now paying $5k premiums with a $5k deductible for an in-patient only Cigna Expat plan for both (so $10k out-of-pocket). Thailand, if I go the O-X route, and, soon to include the O-A route I have to pay @ THB 120k ($4k). Of course – considerable differences on coverage levels so I’m not providing an apples-to-apples comparison, But…

Regardless of whatever Thailand requires, I will comply, not by choice, but by necessity. As an Expat you gotta stay legit.

Originally Posted by bowie

As an Expat you gotta stay legit.

I often wonder why I'm legit. Doing things legal is a pain in the arse whereby illegals say that paying under the table is so straight forward.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

Err, there is no western oriented medical insurance provider that will offer a 60+ annual policy for under 150,000 - 250,000 baht and that will of course depend on medical history, exclusions and excesses. If one is already privately insured before 60 then they let you carry on but with obvious increases but once you hit 70 you is fucked.

Well thats no good now is it.

Best the old cunts stay at home in their bedsit and cry into their porridge then.

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

I often wonder why I'm legit.

Well, I stay legit because if the proverbial "shit-hit-the-fan" the consequences and the ramifications would serious affect my loved ones. I will not risk the disruption in their lives.

[QUOTE=Fondles;3946740]The cunts demanding life insurance as well now ?

Beat me to it, the irony of Buttchugger berating Tez and fukin up in the first para of his sterling advice made me spit me tea out..

@ Bowie. My brother was hammered with the Affordable Healthcare act. He was self employed with 2 kids. He was paying almost $2.2k a month with ridiculous deductibles.

Originally Posted by bowie

cheapest plan USD $1k/month premiums with a $15k deductible

Originally Posted by bowie

Comparison, we are now paying $5k premiums with a $5k deductible for an in-patient only Cigna Expat plan

I am assume when you say $5K premiums you mean annual as the above for comparisons was $1k a month.

Regardless its still cheaper here using private hospitals. As I posted earlier, for the ones that pay as they go, they are best served getting the cheapest basic plan with any exceptions/exclusions they can because they will not use it. They will pay cash as events surface. I know that would/will be my approach. My wife is funny as she told me a long time ago she will use Govt hospital services because as a Thai she knows how to navigate it to get the care she needs (she was a Nurse manager in BKK for 15 years). I said whatever works.

I personally think that far too many get all spun up into a panic over medical coverage. This leads to stress and as we all know stress is what kills most and makes them sick. In the U.S. Medical, pharmaceutical and insurance companies want you to live in fear. Its that fear that sells it. They sell the "What If's", toss out these huge costs and people line up to buy whatever is being sold to mitigate their fears. Most insurance companies find endless ways to make it complicated and not pay for it all anyway. They say they will but wait until you try and use it.

Anyway, that said I am not really bothered they are now mandating medical insurance coverage. We would be buying it in our home country. The reality is the medical community is big business and need to make money to offer clients services. What I do not like are the insurance companies that fuk with people. I told my wife that if things get really ugly later on in life, we can always move back to the states and by then I will be eligible for Medicare, food stamps and section 8 housing....

One plus of getting older is you do less and need less. All ya require is a little apartment, big TV, couch and chair and a comfy toilet, at least that's what my Dad keeps telling me...

Originally Posted by JPPR2

One plus of getting older is you do less and need less. All ya require is a little apartment, big TV, couch and chair and a comfy toilet, at least that's what my Dad keeps telling me...

You are missing the lady to cook, clean and iron for you, oh and just to keep her trim, throw out the TV remote so she gets exercise getting up to change channels

Originally Posted by JPPR2

I am assume when you say $5K premiums you mean annual as the above for comparisons was $1k a month.

JPPR2 - right on all counts.

As I've always said - whatever the Thai government requires I will provide - or, repatriate, a costly but doable option. Ex-military, I can live anywhere - less a combat zone. So, up to my wife.

Although - as far as the "father knows best" well, I don't know, guess I'm a bit more spoiled than your Dad. But, there is truth in his "minimums".

On the subject of insurance - other than the regulatory requirements - "insurance" is a matter of personal choice. One size does not fit all. Really hard to pre-analyze and determine a suitable medical plan. I'm 62, have an empty bucket list, and really, no goals. So, I'd like to believe that if the Big C, a heart attack, stroke, or a crippling accident came along I'd be willing to check out - I'd like to believe that, but, unless I had to "actually" face that situation, I do not know what I'd decide to do. So, "at-this-point-in-time" I'll maintain a USD $1M plan with a $5k deductible. Don't have a clue what I'll do as I age and the premiums increase - of course, soon I'll have US Medicare, and, perhaps, at that point in time, a reasonable Medicare Part B plan with an overseas Expat plan containing emergency repatriation may fit the bill. We'll see.
\

it seems only brits and americans will be affected by this.

most europeans seem to be covered whilst abroad, even for those who live abroad, by the national health insurance schemes of their home countries.

some pay a small supplement for foreign coverage, but the coverage is excellent and neither age nor pre-existing conditions seem to matter.

they visit dentists, physiotherapists and hospitals and send the bill to their governments who unquestioningly seem to stump up.

Originally Posted by bowie

So, I'd like to believe that if the Big C, a heart attack, stroke, or a crippling accident came along I'd be willing to check out

I have it in my living will. I made it clear that I am not to be sustained. I know as humans we have a built in survival mode and when our mortality is at risk, we will do anything to stay alive even though the long term outcome is we all die anyway. To me its all about the quality of life. That's what I will base my decision on. Like you, I really don't have anything specific I want to do other than have fun and laugh as much as I can and watch the life clock tick on.

Originally Posted by bowie

"father knows best" well, I don't know, guess I'm a bit more spoiled than your Dad. But, there is truth in his "minimums".

Of course he always jokes about it in his simplistic POV. Now in his 80's my parents have lived quite well but I have seen them pare it back a lot now and that started in their 70's. He makes a lot of good sense.

Originally Posted by NamPikToot

You are missing the lady to cook, clean and iron for you, oh and just to keep her trim, throw out the TV remote so she gets exercise getting up to change channels

My wife is 10+ years younger than me. It was a given she would be there with me. But I suspect that she will throw the remote at me or make me get up to go get it (She does that now), She will always cook, not for me but you know, Thais LIVE for food and she can't stop that. I doubt my wardrobe 10 years from now in my 60's will require ironing. In fact that's one of those things you toss out along with that big ironing board..... Everything is wash and wear.

Originally Posted by JPPR2

I doubt my wardrobe 10 years from now in my 60's will require ironing. In fact that's one of those things you toss out along with that big ironing board..... Everything is wash and wear.

Standards JPPR, standards, you simply can't go around looking like The Gent in his linens.

Originally Posted by JPPR2

Everything is wash and wear.

Scruffy bastard

Myself has Private health insurance in Ozstralia and buy travel Insurance for me trips to shitsville.

First sign of any serious medical issue and im straight on the plane back to Perth and into Hospital to get me cancerous arsehole sorted.

If i survive the treatment ill jump back on the plane and cum back to retardestan simply because i love my time amoungst the fookin insane retards that live in the shitter.

Its great fookin fun i recon even though the place is quite fuked up.

All good innit fukers.